CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Intrepid, Stratus & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.
NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.
Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation.
This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.
We bought an Intrepid, I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I hate it now. We have had so many diagnostics ran on it that the stupid car starts liking these readings and starts messing with the outcome on them. We replaced oxygen sensors, map sensors, you name it. Then we found out through all these false readings with no solutions for them, that it had to be something more. The dodge dealer found out that it was a bad intake gasket. The car was improved after getting it repaired but the engine light never went off. Someone had fixed it and turned it back into the car dealer that we had bought it from. This is a real bummer. Now one year later the intake gasket has blown again. Here we go again..
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We bought an Intrepid, I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I hate it now. We have had so many diagnostics ran on it that the stupid car starts liking these readings and starts messing with the outcome on them. We replaced oxygen sensors, map sensors, you name it. Then we found out through all these false readings with no solutions for them, that it had to be something more. The dodge dealer found out that it was a bad intake gasket. The car was improved after getting it repaired but the engine light never went off. Someone had fixed it and turned it back into the car dealer that we had bought it from. This is a real bummer. Now one year later the intake gasket has blown again. Here we go again..
- mdavidson, London, KY, US